Freedom of the Press and the Rise of the Citizen Journalist

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This week’s episode of The American Idea features a conversation with Jonathan Turley, a legal scholar known for his expertise on free speech and the First Amendment, discussing his book, “The Indispensable Right: Free Speech in an Age of Rage,” with a special focus on a free press and how our news media landscape is in a period of significant transition.

Turley argues that free speech is essential to human nature and that its suppression is a dangerous trend, especially in the context of social media. He critiques the current state of traditional media, arguing that their decline in readership is due in part to their embrace of advocacy journalism and their unwillingness to address the concerns of a broad spectrum of the public. He expresses concern about the potential for government and tech companies to use “disinformation” as a pretext for censorship and ultimately the suppression of dissenting viewpoints.

Turley maintains that the best solution to harmful speech is not censorship but more speech, emphasizing the importance of citizen journalists and the internet’s ability to empower free expression. Despite his concerns, he ultimately expresses optimism for the future of free speech, believing that its inherent value will ultimately prevail over efforts to suppress it.